Ashes to Go: Priests take to the streets on Ash Wednesday

Priests from Chicago's Episcopal Diocese fanned out to Metra and CTA stations, college campuses, nursing homes, even coffee houses today to perform Ash Wednesday rites marking the beginning of Lent.

The diocese said the initiative, called "Ashes to Go," is meant to reach people who can't attend church services, where ashes are placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross.

It said it was encouraged by the positive response to the outreach last year.

"Lots of folks on the train platform pulled out their cell phones and took pictures," said the Rev. Emily Mellott, rector of the Calvary Episcopal Church in Lombard. "People who weren't interested in receiving seemed happy that we were there. One of the other folks told me one commuter said, 'I'm so glad you're not another politician!' "